Gezicht op de Cavalli di Bronzo op de poort van het Palazzo Reale in Napels c. 1860 - 1880

This photograph by Giorgio Sommer captures the Cavalli di Bronzo at the Palazzo Reale in Naples using a subdued palette. The composition is structured around a play of contrasts: the imposing architecture of the palace is set against the natural, organic forms of the trees, while the stoic bronze horses on the gateposts contrast with the open space in the foreground. The photograph’s visual language evokes a sense of established order. The use of symmetry, with the palace centered in the background, and the balanced placement of the horse sculptures, reinforces a sense of stability. Sommer employs photographic techniques to frame a societal perspective that values structure and controlled beauty. The very act of capturing this scene through the lens can be seen as an attempt to frame and understand the world, reflecting how photography, even in its early stages, could codify and present a particular version of reality. Through its formal arrangement, the photograph invites us to consider how such images create and maintain cultural narratives.